North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team were defeated by the Western Nebraska Community College Cougars in the regular season finale, 86-58, Saturday afternoon at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium.

It was the last home game for sophomores Godfrey Rolle, Goy Lew, and Buom Duboul.

The Cougars controlled the game from the opening tip and never trailed in the game. In the first half the Cougars led by as much as 14 points at 24-10. The Knights were able to pull within four at 31-27 and trailed at halftime 42-31.

In the first half, the Knights shot 9 for 28 from the field for 32 percent.

In the second half, the Cougars maintained a double digit lead.

The Knights continued their cold shooting at 34 percent in second half and 33 percent for the game.

The Cougars shot 48.3 percent from the field, including 15 three-pointers in the game.

The Knights, 15-12 on the season and 8-8 in Region IX South Sub-Region play were led in scoring by Rolle, who scored 20 points. Lew was the only other Knight to score in double figures with 16 points. Lew and Jakub Karwowski each had five rebounds to lead the Knights.

The Cougars had five players in double figures led by Vinnie Shahid with 21 points. Martin Roub was next with 18 points. Jervay Green added 13 points, Marlon Sierra had 12 points and Trent Harris finished with 10 points. Sierra had 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars.

The Knights, as the sixth seed, will travel to the third seed Trinidad State for the opening round of the Region IX Tournament on March 3rd.